Hawaiian takes down Olympic freestyle legend

By Gary Mihoces, USA TODAY

Updated

LONDON
–
In her size 5 ½ wrestling shoes, Clarissa Chun stepped took the podium Wednesday to accept a bronze medal that gave the whole U.S. wrestling team — men and women — a needed boost. For Chun herself, it also was a lift in a month in which her longtime personal coach left the team.

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It was the first wrestling medal for the USA in this Olympics. Chun, 30, a native of Hawaii, earned it by beating Irini Merlin of Ukraine in the 105.5-pound class of women's freestyle. In the Olympic debut of women's wrestling in 2004, Merlini won the first gold. In the 2008 Olympics, Merlini pinned Chun for bronze.

"It was life or death. … It was like redemption time," Chun said after downing Merlini 1-0, 3-0 in their best-of-three periods freestyle match.

Six U.S. men failed to win a medal earlier in Greco-Roman wrestling. Another U.S. woman, 138.75-pounder Elena Pirozhkova, was eliminated earlier Wednesday.

"I wish the best for the U.S. in wrestling. I've always cheered all the guys on," Chun said with a U.S. flag over her shoulders. "It's kind of a hard thing to follow (the tough times in Greco-Roman). Everyone's mood is kind of down. … Sometimes, you just need something to get the ball rolling."

Said Terry Steiner, U.S. national women's coach: "Success breeds success. The medal is for everyone.''

The lead-up to Games wasn't training as usual for Chun. Steiner said Chun's personal coach, Keith Wilson, left the team for "personal reasons" in early July. Wilson had been on the U.S. Olympic staff. Steiner declined to elaborate on why Wilson left.

"She went through a lot of turmoil in the last month. I'm just happy for her that she could keep it together," Steiner said. "Her main coach isn't here for her. I mean she really had to get to the point that she could get this done and she could do it herself."

When asked about any pre-Olympics turmoil, Chun said. "There's just a lot of things like in training that you have to overcome. … I would like to say that I don't get stressed out. But I have to step back and remind myself that this is a great opportunity, and I'm really excited for it."

The crowd roars Wednesday was dominated by Japanese fans, who celebrated two golds. Hitomi Obara won the 105.5-pound class with a win against Mariya Stadnyk of Azerbaijan, who by making the final gave Chun her chance to wrestle back for a bronze. In the 138.75-pound class, Japan's Kaori Icho won her third Olympic gold.

But nobody was smiling more than Chun.

After losing to Stadnyk, an Olympic bronze winner in 2008 and world champ in 2009, Chun had to wait it out to see if Stadnyk made the final. After she did, Chun beat Iwona Nina Matkowska of Poland to make one of the bronze medal matches. There are two awarded in wrestling.

Against Merlini for the bronze, Chun won the first period 1-0 with a takedown with 2 seconds left in the two-minute period. About 1:20 into the second period, Chun threw Merlini on her back for a three-pointer en route to the 3-0 win. Chun used an arm throw to put Merlini on her back.

"I have a judo background," Chun said.

Merlini, 30, is also a three-time world champion. After the Olympics in 2008, Chun won the 2008 world title, but the field that year wasn't at its usual strength following the Olympics. The field was fully loaded Wednesday.

"When I first started as national coach, she (Chun) struggled for years trying to make the team," Steiner said. "She was always the No. 2 person, and then she broke into the lineup. It's the roller coaster of being an athlete. We have to enjoy it."

Chun certainly did. When her match was over, Chun shook hands of just about everyone else in the mat area.

"I'm so grateful for every opportunity," she said. "I wish I could have shaken everyone in the stands hands."